Indigenous

BHRRC: “630 instances of attacks against people raising concerns about business-related harms” in 2023

The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC) has released its report titled: People power under pressure: Human rights defenders & business in 2023. A key finding of the report is: “Between January 2015 and December 2023, the Resource Centre documented over 5,300 attacks globally against HRDs challenging corporate harm. Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

PBI-Honduras observes COPINH sit-in following conviction of three in the ‘Fraud on Gualcarque’ case

PBI-Honduras has posted: “The Corruption Sentencing Court has just convicted 3 of the 6 former public officials accused in the ‘Fraud on Gualcarque’ case. We are observing the @COPINHHONDURAS [Civic Council of Grassroots and Indigenous Organizations in Honduras] sit-in, which requested a conviction for the 6 accused people.” COPINH adds Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

PBI-Guatemala accompanies the trial of General Benedicto Lucas accused of genocide against the Maya Ixil people

Photo by PBI-Guatemala. PBI-Guatemala is accompanying the trial of General Manuel Benedicto Lucas Garcia who is accused of committing genocide against the Maya Ixil people between August 1981 and March 1982 during the Internal Armed Conflict. He stands accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, forced disappearances and sexual violence. Now Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

PBI-Guatemala accompanies women’s group from Chinautla supporting Poqomam leader Armando Vazquez

On April 23, PBI-Guatemala posted: “PBI accompanies this morning to the women’s group from Chinautla, which accompanies the family of the defender Armando Vazquez whose son was killed last Thursday and while the other son survived the attack and is injured in the hospital. To local and national authorities, we Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

ALERT: 16-year-old son of Maya-Poqomam leader opposed to sand extraction in Chinautla, Guatemala killed by gunmen

Prensa Comunitaria photo: “Poqomam people of Chinautla say goodbye to Enilson Vásquez Chacón … who was murdered during an attack against his father on Thursday, April 18.” The Peace Brigades International-Guatemala Project has posted on Facebook: “We share our ALERT about the murder of Denilson Alberto Vázquez Chacón and attempted Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

Da’naxda’xw-Awaetlala land defender Rainbow Eyes sentenced to 60 days in jail

Photo: Rainbow Eyes outside the Nanaimo courthouse with supporters just prior to sentencing on April 24. Photo by Jordan Davidson/Nanaimo News NOW. Da’naxda’xw-Awaetlala land defender Angela Davidson, also known as Rainbow Eyes, was sentenced this week to 60 days in jail for her participation in the peaceful blockades against Teal Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

Educa Oaxaca video explains opposition from Indigenous communities to Vancouver-based Fortuna Silver Mines

Video still. Educa Oaxaca has posted: “Mining represents a serious threat to indigenous communities in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. In the Central Valleys, 12 communities have organized to confront this problem and to defend their territories and dignity. However, despite presenting evidence, testimonies, and records, and in violation of Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

PBI-Mexico accompanies the family of murdered Indigenous Náhuatl land defender Samir Flores Soberanes

PBI-Switzerland has posted on Instagram: “In March 2024, Swiss television SRF aired a moving reportage by Mitja Rietbrock on the work of PBI Mexico entitled ‘Mexico: Commitment against violence and arbitrariness’. The film highlights PBI’s escort for the family of Samir Flores, a human rights activist murdered for his resistance Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

UN Special Rapporteur comments on the “repression and persecution” faced by Indigenous water protectors in Canada

Photo: Maria Jose Acosta Lazo and Pedro Arrojo Agudo at their media conference at the Lord Elgin Hotel in Ottawa, April 19. Pedro Arrojo Agudo, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, has concluded his official visit to Canada. In a media statement released Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) session focuses on the criminalization of Indigenous land defenders

The Mongabay web-news portal reports: “[The] rise in criminalization [was] the key focus of a report released this week at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, or UNPFII, the largest gathering of Indigenous activists, policymakers, and leaders in the world. ‘It’s a very serious concern because the Indigenous people Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago